Protective packaging apparatus and method for curvilinear produce items

ABSTRACT

Packaging and method for safely transporting plural individualized bananas. The bananas are individualized, the stems trimmed, and the bananas are immersed in a cleansing solution and dried. A protective sleeve extends end-to-end over the length of each banana, and plural correspondingly-sized bananas are aligned in an arched, side-by-side arrangement atop an elongate support member within a produce-preserving overwrap. The overwrap is sealed and placed into a typically rectangular container, with the ends of each banana facing downwardly and the outer curvature facing upwardly. A pad end is loosely rolled and tucked beneath the blossom ends of the bananas, the rest of the pad extending over the bananas and tucking between the stem ends of the bananas and a sidewall of the container. An upper pad is placed atop the bananas, and the container is covered and sealed. The container can also be partitioned to receive and retain additional produce items.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional application No. 61/581,996, filed on Dec. 30, 2011 and entitled PROTECTIVE PACKAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CURVILINEAR PRODUCE ITEMS, the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein in their entirety by this reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to the field of packaging for shipment of produce items. More particularly, the invention relates to a novel packaging method and structural arrangement for elongate curvilinear fruit and similar produce items.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Curvilinear produce items, in particular bananas, are: highly susceptible to damage, such as bruising, during shipping. Damage can result from incidents of impact, or from prolonged pressure or abrasion at various contact points with the packaging or other co-packaged items. Damaged bananas typically develop black spots, dents, and other external indications of damage, as well as softening and even liquefaction of the edible fruit (“flesh”) inside the peel, reducing the perceived freshness and quality, and therefore the salability of the fruit.

To minimize such damage, bananas are typically shipped in a firm, unripe state, and are left in bunches that remain joined at the stem end as when they were initially cut from the tree. However, shipping unripe bananas in bunches also presents several problems. Bananas typically arrive at the store still in a green, unripe state, and either the store or the consumer must store them until they ripen to a preferred sweet, appropriately soft state. Storing bananas consumes valuable space, delays sale by sellers and use by consumers. Further, stored bananas remain vulnerable to further damage due to temperatures and handling during the storage and retrieval processes, and must be continuously monitored for ripeness. Further, the entire weight of a bunch of bananas in a shipping package typically rests upon a relatively small surface area of only a few bananas. Such “contact points” are highly susceptible to bruising due to handling and impact events throughout shipping.

Bunches of bananas are sometimes shipped in plastic bags to promote cleanliness, to facilitate handling, and to prevent scuffing (marking), but are then typically packed tightly into a cardboard, wooden or other box for shipment. In only one instance known to applicants, individual bananas were packaged in a plastic sleeve and shipped to retail stores. However, the individualized bananas were not specially arranged in the shipping box, and bruising or scuffing still occurred at various contact points between adjacent bananas, as well as between the packaging and bananas. Further, the bananas are either green and unready for use, or arrive damaged due to the inherent softness of a relatively ripe and ready-to-eat banana. Applicants are unaware of any existing viable solution for shipping bananas to stores and/or end users wherein the bananas consistently arrive undamaged and in a mostly ripened, ready-to-use state.

When individualized prior to shipping, bananas are typically either wedged tightly into place by other bananas, or are free to move about within the packaging and become damaged due to jostling and impacts throughout shipping. Whether wedged against other surfaces, or free to move around within the package, individualized bananas are particularly subject to damage during shipping. Applicants are aware of one company (Del Monte Foods) that has shipped individualized bananas to retail stores, where each individual banana is sealed in a plastic bag. However, the plastic bag alone does nothing to mitigate the problems discussed above. The individualized bananas are not otherwise substantially protected from damage through shipping to any greater extent than according, to the methods described above.

As yet, a safe, relatively high density packaging system and method for individualized bananas is not currently known in the industry, particularly for bananas and other curvilinear produce items that are shipped in a ripened or mostly ripe, ready-to-use state, and are therefore more susceptible to damage than are bunched bananas shipped in a substantially unripe state.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts bunched and individualized elongate, curvilinear produce items (e.g., bananas), including a stem being trimmed on one such produce item, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 depicts plural bananas immersed in a cleaning solution, and plural other bananas drying on a rack, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 depicts plural similarly-sized bananas grouped according to size, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 a depicts a banana and several structural features thereof relative to descriptive terms employed in the accompanying description, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 b depicts disposing bananas atop an elongate support member within a produce-preserving overwrap bag, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 depicts disposing a lower pad and plural bananas sealed in an overwrap bag being disposed within a container, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 depicts a container with plural produce items disposed within, and a pad member having a loosely rolled end being disposed in the container relative to plural bananas, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 depicts plural containers, each including plural produce items, and an upper pad member, all being disposed within an overpack box, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 depicts a method of preparing and packaging produce items according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Numerous descriptive words and phrases in the following description carry their plain and ordinary meanings. Terms used beyond or contrary to their plain meaning will carry the specialized meaning either expressly provided, or as will be understood by an ordinarily skilled artisan according to the context in which they appear. Additionally, terms which convey a spatial relationship or orientation—e.g. above, below, top, bottom, upright, left, right, etc.—typically relate to an illustrative example or drawing figure for descriptive clarity, and are not intended to require a static spatial orientation as to a described or depicted exemplary embodiment.

Exemplary embodiments used herein for descriptive simplicity and concision are not intended either to narrow the scope of the invention, or to exclude alternative embodiments or equivalents. It simply is neither practical, nor beneficial to the aims of clarity, to attempt to describe every contemplated embodiment of the invention. However, an ordinarily skilled artisan will recognize that numerous alternative embodiments and equivalents likewise fall within the scope of the invention disclosed herein. Likewise, references throughout this description to ‘preferred embodiments’ are not intended to specifically limit the scope of the invention to those described embodiments, but rather are intended to indicate an embodiment found to provide particular benefits in at least one aspect of the invented method or system.

The invention herein pertains to novel packaging and a packaging method, for safely shipping curvilinear produce items, particularly those that are susceptible to damage during handling preparatory to and throughout transit. Additionally, the described embodiments facilitate the safe shipping of such produce items in a state of near readiness for use, which is when they are typically most susceptible to damage and the devaluation that results. Therefore, the inventive embodiments solve existing and persistent problems in the relevant agricultural and commercial industries.

For descriptive simplicity and convenience, a banana is consistently used throughout this description as a representative elongate curvilinear produce item having an easily-recognized and generally understood shape. However, the scope of the invention is intended to encompass use with any and all elongate curvilinear produce items. In light of this description, an ordinarily skilled artisan will recognize that various aspects of the described features can be altered—enabling the same or similar benefits when used with larger, smaller, heavier or lighter elongate curvilinear produce items, or even with those that are less symmetrically formed than are bananas—without departing from the scope of the invention as disclosed herein.

The term “curvilinear” is understood in the art to describe the shape of elongate curved produce items such bananas. One example of the common understanding of the term “curvilinear,” with regard to bananas, is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,035,056 to Sheffield. When used by itself herein in reference to produce items, the term “curvilinear” typically incorporates the characteristics of both elongate and curved, unless otherwise indicated. Additionally, unless otherwise indicated, reference to a “banana” herein generally means an individual banana fruit having an intact outer peel (or ‘skin’), such that the normally eaten portion of the fruit remains within the peel, and the peel retains its natural characteristics as a barrier to the external environment. Reference to other curvilinear produce items (e.g., plantains, etc.) likewise contemplates each in a harvested but unpeeled state.

An exemplary embodiment of the invented packaging and method is now described with reference to the figures. As shown at FIG. 1, bunched bananas 1 are first individualized (also known as “debunched”) by severing a connection 3 of each banana 2 to the other bananas 4 in the bunch 1. Bananas may be individualized by pulling the banana 2 at an angle away from the bunch 1, tearing the stem portion 5 from its junction with the other bananas' stems. Alternatively, and preferably, bananas can be individualized by cutting the stem transversely at a point between the body (e.g., the fruit pod) of the banana and the junction of the stem with the other bananas in the bunch.

However individualized, the stems 5 of each of the individualized bananas 2 will be simultaneously or subsequently trimmed to an approximately uniform length 6. The location at which to cut the stem in order to provide an intended stem length 6 can be manually measured with a measuring device (e.g., ruler, tape measure, gauge, etc.) for each banana 2. Alternatively, a tool or jig can be configured to mechanically guide either a cutting implement 7, a banana 2, or both, to consistently cut a stem 5 at approximately an intended, approximately uniform length. In an exemplary embodiment, the length of the remaining stem portion of each banana after cutting is approximately three-quarters of an inch (0.75 in.; or 1.9 cm.).

A sharp knife 7 or other cutting instrument is preferably used to produce a clean cut, which tends to reduce the amount of sap (also referred to as ‘latex’) that leaks from the cut end of the stem. By contrast, a rough cut, which might include tearing, splitting, compressing the fibers within the stem, tends to increase the amount of sap that leaks from the stem. Banana sap oxidizes and darkens when exposed to air, staining the fruit and degrading its appearance. Thus, individualizing the banana according to the invented method tends to reduce the amount of unsightly and sticky oxidized sap than is typically presented to a user by the significantly larger stem bundle of a banana bunch. Additionally, rough cutting of the banana stem can result in hardened projections of stray fiber bundles after the stem has dried. As described below, such projections can poke and breach the airtight integrity of a sealed overwrap material, leading to uncontrolled and undesirable environmental conditions surrounding the banana during shipping.

Once individualized, the bananas 2 are immersed in a cleansing solution 201, as shown in FIG. 2, for a predetermined duration. In alternate embodiments, the cleansing solution 201 can be either of water or a sodium hydrochlorate solution. In an exemplary embodiment, the cleansing solution 201 is an aqueous solution of ascorbic acid having a concentration in the range between approximately one percent and ten percent (1-10%), and preferably approximately five percent (5%), available under the name Ascorbic Acid USP from tiniChem Enterprises, Inc. (offices in Seattle, Wash.; Los Angeles, Calif.; etc.).

An exemplary duration for the immersion is found within the range of five seconds to one hundred twenty (5-120) seconds, and preferable approximately thirty to forty-five (30-45) seconds. Further, a temperature range of the cleansing solution during immersion is preferably maintained between approximately fifty-four and fifty-eight degrees Fahrenheit (54-58° F. or 12.2-14.4° C.). This temperature range has been shown to beneficially slow the ripening of bananas, yet avoiding thermal damage (e.g., blackening) to the peel that can occur due to exposure to lower temperatures.

An ordinarily skilled artisan could likewise utilize a somewhat higher or lower concentration of ascorbic acid solution, and accordingly expose the bananas to the solution for a shorter or longer duration of time, respectively, without departing from the contemplated and intended scope of the inventive embodiments. For example, ascorbic acid concentrations as low as approximately two percent (2%) or as high as approximately ten percent (10%), or anywhere within a range bounded by those concentrations, could likewise be used, and an ordinarily skilled artisan could easily, in light of this description, adjust the immersion duration to produce the same or a similar result with minimal experimentation.

The exemplary ascorbic acid solution beneficially dissolves and washes away excess sap at the cut end of the stem, as well as removing sap that may have leaked onto the exterior of the banana's skin. Additionally, research (see Effect of Postharvest Treatments on Quality Aspect of Maghrabi Banana Fruit: Abd El-Naby, S. K. M., American-Eurasian J. Agric. & Environ. Sci., 8 (5): 582-587 (2010)) indicates that wiping the exterior of a banana with an ascorbic acid solution may increase the firmness of the skin, further helping to maintain fruit freshness and minimize contact damage. The research did not, however, include immersing bananas in an ascorbic acid solution for cleaning purposes, and also did not include exposing the cut stem end of the banana to the solution.

Contemplated methods for immersing the bananas include submerging bananas 2 in a quantity of the cleansing solution 201 retained in a basin 202 or other receptacle, such as by floating or dipping; the bananas 2 in the solution 201. In some instances, full immersion can be assured by gently forcing the bananas below the surface of the solution with a screen or another mechanical device. Alternatively, the bananas can be manually turned or washed in the solution, to provide thorough coverage of all surfaces of the fruit. Beneficial exposure can also be provided by spraying each banana with a low pressure spray, or otherwise causing, a stream of the ascorbic acid solution to flow across the surface of each banana. However achieved, the embodiments contemplate exposure of all or nearly all of the external surface of each banana to the ascorbic acid solution or other cleansing solution.

Following the above described immersion, the bananas 2 are air dried. For example, bananas can be placed on a rack 203 which allows air flow to nearly all exterior surfaces of each banana's skin. Alternatively, the bananas can be placed on nearly any stable horizontal surface, or hung carefully yet securely by the remaining stem portion, or by any other suitable method that allows the cleaning solution to evaporate from the exterior surface of each banana. Drying can be beneficially accelerated by exposing the banana to flowing air, but flowing air is not essential to evaporate or dry the ascorbic acid solution remaining at the surface of the bananas following immersion.

While at least one embodiment contemplates using heated air to dry the bananas, heated air is not typically utilized. Instead, the bananas are maintained at a relatively consistent ambient temperature substantially throughout processing according to the method described herein. For example, in an embodiment, the ambient temperature is maintained within a range of approximately fifty-four to fifty-eight degrees Fahrenheit (54-58° F.; or 12.2-14.4° C.), including during the drying operation described above. Alternatively, dried air having a very low humidity content can be used, to beneficially accelerate drying. Likewise, while at least one embodiment contemplates wiping the bananas dry with an absorbent material, a preferred embodiment minimizes handling and abrasion of the bananas by simply allowing, them to air dry.

After a suitable interval of time, which will be predetermined based on the consistent results of testing under corresponding conditions, bananas are then visually inspected to confirm that the ascorbic acid solution has dried from the bananas' exterior surfaces, and that little or no sap remains thereupon. Particular attention is given to the cut end of the stem, to confirm that it is fully dry.

As shown in FIG. 3, the bananas 2 are then compared or measured, and sorted by size, with bananas having the same or closely similar sizes 425 being grouped for packaging. By such grouping of relatively uniformly-sized bananas, the other protective packaging features and structures in an embodiment of the invented packaging, can correspondingly be relatively uniformly configured, while also providing relatively equivalent levels of protection to all of the bananas packaged therein. That is, the packaging features and structures generally need not be altered to conform to the unique dimensions of one or more of the bananas relative to the other bananas in a container, therefore facilitating ease in packaging and predictability of results. An ordinarily skilled artisan will recognize that different bananas in a bunch can vary substantially in size. Therefore, bananas grouped for packaging together may be from two or more different hunches, and other larger or smaller bananas from those bunches may be grouped and packaged separately with other correspondingly-sized bananas.

After drying as described above, the bananas 2 are then fitted, as in FIG. 4 b, with a protective covering 401. In a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment, the covering 401 comprises an expandable band having art open mesh configuration, as shown, and being formed of a relatively low density foam material. One such exemplary embodiment is a one-eighth inch polyethylene foam mesh fruit sleeve (known by the trademarked name SLEEVEIT), available from Pregis Corporation of Deerfield, Ill. Information from the Pregis Corporation states that the mesh fruit sleeves can be used for numerous different produce items, including apples. Asian pears, mangoes, papaya. Pepino melons, and tomatoes, for example. The provided examples all involve relatively round or rounded produce items, or those having a notably bulbous configuration. However, the information does not describe, depict, or suggest that the mesh fruit sleeve can or should be used to protect elongate, curvilinear produce items such as bananas. The information also does not state that the sleeve should be wrapped lengthwise around the opposing stem and blossom ends of a produce item, rather than circumferentially around the more central, edible flesh portion of the product item. In fact, the lengthwise arrangement is contrary to the generally understood intent and beneficial use of a fruit sleeve, as will be recognized by an ordinarily skilled artisan.

In particular, the typical and known use of such foam fruit sleeves involves inserting a fruit or produce item into the sleeve so that the sleeve extends circumferentially around the item, with one or the other of the stein and blossom ends of the item (where applicable) presented in an uncovered manner at the open end of the sleeve. When the sleeve is configured approximately as a mesh tube with two opposing open ends, both of the stem and blossom ends of the produce item are presented at the respective opposing ends of the sleeve. Inserting a produce item into the fruit sleeve typically expands the sleeve. During normal use, the expanded sleeve closely conforms to the outer dimensions of the produce item and exerts a slight compressive force around its circumference.

The ordinary and understood function of a fruit sleeve is to provide a protective cushioned barrier around a fruit, to prevent damage from direct contact with surrounding surfaces, including other fruit items. However, a typical embodiment of the invented method described herein uses a fruit sleeve (“band” herein) 401 not according to its customary and understood method, but instead in a distinct and previously unknown manner. Accordingly, the invented embodiments involve placing a band 401 around the exemplary banana 2, so that the band extends around and across the opposing ends (stem end 402 and blossom end 403) of the banana, as shown in FIGS. 4 a and 4 b. The band 401 so placed, unlike the conventional use in the art, purposely does not circumferentially surround and dimensionally conform to the mid-sections of the curvilinear produce item. Instead, a portion of the band 401 extends linearly along the outer curvature 404 at one side of the exemplary banana 2, but remains separated from the inner curvature 405 of the banana 2 at a side thereof where the band 401 extends in a generally straight path between the opposing ends of the banana.

When configured as described, the general appearance of the banana and the band may be said to resemble, in profile view, a how strung for use in archery, or the letter ‘D.’ In a typical embodiment of the invented method, the ‘bowstring’ portion 406 of the hand functions in the manner of a suspension spring, or shock absorber. The tension of the ‘bowstring’ portion 406 of the band assists in maintaining a produce item in an at least partially elevated position relative to an underlying surface. The ‘bowstring’ portion 406 of the band further helps to absorb the energy of forces directed approximately toward the inner curvature of the banana, preventing such forces from being applied directly to the surface of the banana itself. When such forces do manage to reach the surface of the banana, they will typically be substantially mitigated by the bowstring portion of the covering, and therefore are much less likely to cause damage to the banana.

The band can he modified in alternative embodiments for use with various types of elongate curvilinear produce items. For example, the band can be wider or narrower, thicker or thinner, or can comprise a material having, either of a higher or lower resistance to expansion relative to the exemplary fruit sleeve described above, to provide a suitable level of suspension and shock absorption respective to the size and weight of a particular produce item. Further, produce items that are less subject to damage due to compressive forces applied along a long axis thereof, may tolerate a more highly compressive band configuration than would a banana. In the case of a heavier produce item, a relatively more highly compressive band may provide more support in the event of a vertically applied force (e.g., from an impact) during shipping and handling. In light of the entire disclosure provided herein, it is expected that an ordinarily skilled artisan will be able to make such modifications without requiring undue experimentation. Alternatively, use of a band can be omitted entirely in at least one contemplated embodiment.

The configuration and function described herein, and the resulting benefits, are entirely unlike and not obvious in view of the conventional use of a fruit sleeve as a conformal barrier to cushion the sides of a fruit item against direct contact. The unexpected benefits of the described configuration additionally relate to and result at least in part from the overall structure and arrangement of the remainder of the novel packaging method and structures described herein. The same configurations and benefits would not be apparent in light of traditional and commonplace packaging methods in the art.

A fruit sleeve suitably configured according to the conventional use, to circumferentially surround, at least a portion of a banana, may be additionally employed in at least one embodiment. However, such use would typically be in addition to, rather than instead of, a band configured to extend around the ends of the banana as described and shown herein.

Turning again to FIG. 4 b, an elongate support member 410 is provided. In a typical embodiment of the described packaging arrangement, the elongate support member 410, also referred to herein as a “BANANA BRIDGE” support member 410 (BANANA BRIDGE is a trademark owned by The Fruit Company, Inc.), is positioned so that it underlies the inner curvature 405 of one or more bananas 2, providing support thereto. The elongate support member 410 can be custom formed (e.g., molded, extruded, cut, etc.) for use with a particular size, type, or quantity of produce items, or can alternatively be specially-configured from an already existing structure or material, or combination thereof, to fit a particular size type or quantity of product items. For example, a suitable BANANA BRIDGE support member 410 can be configured by folding a pad (e.g., a JIFFY pad available from the Michelsen Packaging Company of Yakima, Wash.) approximately in half either along or transverse to a long axis thereof.

A JIFFY Pad is typically configured as a laminated structure formed of two expanses of kraft paper or a similar material, with an interior expanse of a padding material disposed therebetween. The padding does not typically extend entirely to the boundary of the kraft paper. Instead, a margin of kraft paper remains around the outside of the pad at which the two expanses of kraft paper are bonded together, sealing, the padding within a layered arrangement. The interior pad expanse is most typically formed of shredded paper, textiles, foam, or other such materials, but in alternative embodiments can comprise a structure of plural sealed air pockets (e.g., ‘bubblewrap,’ open or closed cell foam, etc.). However, the specific examples listed here are exemplary only, and the embodiments are not limited to any particular material(s) or arrangement.

An exemplary JIFFY Pad designated by the identifier “A14” has a length of approximately fourteen inches (14 in.; or 35.5 cm.) and a width of approximately nine and one half inches (9.5 in.; or 24.1 cm.). Once folded in half lengthwise, a BANANA BRIDGE support member formed from an A14 JIFFY Pad is approximately fourteen inches (14 in.:, or 35.5 cm.) long and approximately four and three quarter inches (4.75 in.; or 12.1 cm.) wide. The described dimensions relate to the exemplary embodiment, but the invented embodiments are not so limited. The embodiments contemplate a wide range of size variations between different curvilinear produce items, and even variation between individuals of a particular type of curvilinear produce items (e.g., variation between individual bananas). Therefore, the embodiments include elongate support members configured with any dimensions suitable to underlie and support the inner curvature of any curvilinear produce item in a manner as described herein. As shown in FIG. 4 b, a pad having different, dimensions from the exemplary A14 JIFFY pad could instead be folded into lengthwise thirds, or quarters, etc., while nevertheless providing a suitably configured BANANA BRIDGE support member.

Alternative materials and structures suitable for a BANANA BRIDGE support member 410 in embodiments include, but are not limited to, low density foam (whether open cell or closed cell), a gas-inflatable bladder, shredded and gathered (e.g., bundled) cloth or paper, or other similarly resilient materials or configurations of materials, as will be apparent to an ordinarily skilled artisan in view of this specification. For example, a BANANA BRIDGE support member 410 can be formed from a sheet of open cell foam folded in the same manner as described above, or by forming a non-folded foam structure that possesses dimensions similar to those described above relative to the BANANA BRIDGE support member configured from a folded JIFFY Pad.

The term “suitably low density” as used in this description means a material which is sufficiently compressible by the weight of a produce item used therewith, to extend the time of acceleration or deceleration of the produce item in response to an applied force (e.g., resulting from an impact event during shipping and handling). Therefore, a suitably low density material used with a banana may be of a lower durometer value than a suitably low density material used with a heavier produce item.

Further, the exemplary BANANA BRIDGE support member has a thickness of approximately three quarters of an inch to one and a half inches (0.75-1.5 in.; or 1.9-3.8 cm.), which is configured typically to fit within the depth “A” (see FIG. 4 a) of the inner curvature 405 of an exemplary banana, as measured relative to a straight line extending between the opposing stem and blossom ends (402 and 403 respectively) of the banana, as shown in FIG. 5. Likewise, a width of a suitably-configured BANANA BRIDGE support member will typically, although not exclusively, fit between the opposing blossom and stem ends of the bananas disposed thereupon.

Of course, the depth of the inner curvature 40 can vary between individual bananas prepared as described herein, so the indicated, dimensions are approximates only and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments. Such variations may arise not only from different sizes and amount of curvature seen from one banana to another, but may also be due in part to variations in preparation of the bananas, such as the length of the remaining cut stem. Nevertheless, the novel packaging method and arrangements described herein compensate for such variations through minor modifications of the described BANANA BRIDGE support member's dimensions, to underlie, support and protect the fruit throughout packaging and shipping to a destination. In at least one embodiment, the thickness of the BANANA BRIDGE support member does not fit within the depth “A” of the selected, bananas, but instead the bananas remain suspended upon the BANANA BRIDGE support member, and the respective blossom and stem ends of one or more of the bananas are held apart from an underlying substrate (e.g., a lower pad, or a floor of a container).

As arranged in a typical embodiment, a banana 2 is disposed atop the folded “BANANA BRIDGE” elongate support member 410, with the long axis of the banana orientated approximately perpendicular to the long axis of the BANANA. BRIDGE support member, and with the opposing ends 402/403 of the banana 2 disposed downwardly on opposing sides of the BANANA BRIDGE support member 410. The BANANA BRIDGE support member may be received within the inner curvature of the banana. However, as previously noted, the band disposed lengthwise over the banana and extending over the two opposing ends thereof adopts a bowstring-like configuration, with elastic tension residing within the bowstring portion. Placing, the banana over the BANANA BRIDGE support member as described first brings the ‘bowstring’ portion of the band into contact with the BANANA BRIDGE support member. As placement of the banana upon the BANANA BRIDGE support member continues downwardly, the band is deflected upwardly toward the inner curvature of the banana, as shown at 411, due to the weight of the banana and the configuration of the upper surface of the BANANA BRIDGE support member 410, until downward force from the weight of the banana is equalized by the upward spring force of the band under tension.

In a preferred embodiment, the bowstring portion of the band 406 is not entirely deflected into contact with the surface of the banana within the inner curvature 405, leaving a space (or “suspension gap”) therebetween, allowing further deflection in response to periodic forces applied due to impacts and vibration during shipping and handling. Selection of a suitably tensile band material and configuration, which takes into account the expected range of variation in weights and inner curvature depths of a selected produce item, provides for relatively consistent achievement of a preferred ‘suspension gap. As mentioned, selecting a suitable band material and configuration is within the skill of an ordinarily skilled artisan in view of the disclosure provided herein.

According to the embodiment discussed above, bananas are placed atop the BANANA BRIDGE elongate support member 410 with the inner curvature 405 and opposing ends of the banana oriented downwardly. In at least one preferred embodiment, one or more of the thickness, width, and upper surface of the BANANA BRIDGE support member are configured so that the BANANA BRIDGE support member fits entirely within the inner curvature of the banana, and the opposing ends of the banana arrive into contact with an underlying substrate. Alternatively and preferably, a suspension gap is maintained, as described above, by applying the fruit sleeves with a suitably tensioned bowstring portion considering the weight and amount of curvature of the particular produce item.

The stem and blossom ends of a banana typically include relatively tough, fibrous materials, which also extend throughout the length of the banana peel, providing a structural element to the fruit. When the ends are orientated downwardly as in the described embodiments, the structural element of the stem and the upwardly arched curvature of the banana provide additional shock absorbent properties that protect the capillaries of the peel from undue scuffing and bruising. In many situations, this characteristic can prevent damage to the flesh. The relatively tough ends of a banana help prevent direct impact to the more easily damaged flesh portions.

As shown in FIG. 4 b, plural bananas are disposed in a sequential side-by-side arrangement atop and along a length of the BANANA BRIDGE support member 410. By such adjacent placement, each banana helps to support its neighboring bananas in the described and depicted upwardly-arching orientation. The length of the BANANA BRIDGE support member, and the number of bananas that will be disposed atop it in any particular embodiment, will correspond approximately to an inner dimension of a container into which the bananas and BANANA BRIDGE support member will be placed for shipment, as is discussed further below. In an exemplary embodiment, eight bananas are arranged atop and along the BANANA BRIDGE support member, but other quantities may also be suitable when allowed by the internal dimensions of a container.

When a suitable number of bananas have been disposed atop the BANANA BRIDGE support member, the bananas and BANANA BRIDGE, support member are collectively placed inside an enclosure, or ‘overwrap’ 412. Alternatively, the BANANA BRIDGE support member 410 is first placed inside the overwrap 412, and the bananas 2 are then sequentially placed into position upon the BANANA BRIDGE within the overwrap.

In a preferred embodiment, the overwrap 412 comprises a bag or sack, with one open end 413 that can be sealed. Additionally, to maintain the freshness and ripeness condition of a produce item during transit, the overwrap 412 possesses specialized gas-absorbing properties in a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment. For example, the material of the overwrap can be configured to absorb, neutralize, or otherwise beneficially affect one or more of gaseous ethylene (C₂H₂), oxygen (O₂), and water vapor (H₂O), reducing the rate or extent to which such gases affect the produce items during shipping and storage.

For example, exposing fruit items to ethylene gas tends to accelerate ripening. Ethylene gas is also given off by ripening fruit items, which can in turn accelerate the ripening of other co-packed fruit items. “Ethylene-absorbent” products typically employ materials such as potassium permanganate (KMnO₄) to oxidize the highly reactive ethylene molecules. Therefore, the ripening process of bananas, for example, can be suspended or delayed by avoiding or minimizing exposure of bananas to the reactive ethylene gas. Examples of ethylene gas absorbing bags that may be used in an embodiment include those known by the trademark BIOFRESH, available from Active Pack of Northbrook, Ill. Others, including those referred to as GREEN BAGS, are also available, as would be recognized by an ordinarily skilled artisan.

Alternatively, in addition to or instead of a gas-absorbent overwrap, one or more packages containing a gas-absorbing material can be included within the overwrap. For example, dehumidifying desiccant packets utilizing a silica gel or clay material are well-known in the art, and are available from man sources. Likewise, ethylene absorbent packets and oxygen absorbent packets are available from many sources. For example, vented plastic egg-shaped packages containing a zeolyte material coated with ethylene absorbent KMnO₄ are available from Waychem, Inc. of Evanston, Wyo.

Many foods suffer quality degradation, which can include color changes and developing, had odors, due to bacterial or fungal growth. Reducing the oxygen content and producing an anaerobic or oxygen-depleted environment surrounding foods can prolong freshness and preserve value. Powdered iron oxide (FeO) is a common and effective active ingredient in many oxygen absorbing products. For example, oxygen absorbent packets are available from Dry Pac Industries of Encino, Calif., among others. However, in at least one non-preferred but nonetheless contemplated embodiment of the invention, the overwrap does not include or contain therein materials or devices having gas-absorbent properties as described above.

Once a suitable quantity of bananas (e.g., as will fit into the selected container and overwrap) are placed into the overwrap, the overwrap is sealed with the bananas and BANANA BRIDGE support member inside, and in an embodiment, one or more of an oxygen, ethylene, or water vapor absorbing; device inside as well. Infiltration of either ethylene or oxygen through a breach in the overwrap can allow accelerated ripening and spoilage, respectively. Therefore, airtight integrity of the overwrap material should be achieved and maintained in order to ensure the effectiveness of either ethylene absorbers or oxygen absorbers. Sealing can be performed by any method known in the art, including heat sealing, ultrasonic sealing, sealing a reusable ‘zipper’ structure (e.g., as is commonly associated with ZIPLOC brand (from S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. of Racine, Wis.) and other similar resealable plastic bags), by folding, and clamping or clipping, by use of an adhesive, or by other means and methods as are known in the art to provide an airtight seal in at least one configuration.

During the sealing process, excess air may be evacuated from the overwrap by gently pressing the overwrap, or by applying a slight vacuum to the interior of the overwrap through the opening being sealed. Evacuating all of the air from inside the overwrap, although contemplated according to one embodiment, is neither necessary to the proper function of the invented method, nor is it performed in a preferred embodiment.

The overwrap with the bananas and BANANA BRIDGE support member are then placed inside a rigid or semi-rigid container 520, as shown in FIG. 5, such as a box or tray constructed of cardboard, plastic, wood, or another such suitable material. In at least one embodiment, a lower pad member 522 is disposed at the floor 524 of the container before placing the produce items into the container. The lower pad member 522 will preferably but not exclusively be approximately coextensive with the floor of the container in length and width, providing a cushioning substrate beneath all contact points of the fruit with the container floor. An exemplary lower pad member includes a relatively thick pad, e.g., in the range of approximately one quarter of an inch to one inch (0.25-1.0 in.; or 0.64-2.5 cm.) thick, and could constitute a JIFFY pad, an expanse of a foam material, a sheet of sealed air pockets (e.g., BUBBLE WRAP, from the Sealed Air Corporation of Elmwood Park, N.J.), an evenly distributed layer of a shredded material, or another suitable cushion material as would he recognized by an ordinarily skilled artisan in light of the disclosure provided herein.

In a typical embodiment, the container 522 comprises plural serially-interconnected sidewalk 526 a-526 d, and a floor 524 coupled with one or more of the plural sidewalls. When the container takes the form of a box or tray, the floor and the plural sidewalls of the container will typically collectively define a rectangular chamber therebetween. The bananas are positioned with their inner curvature facing toward the floor of the container, and their outer curvature facing away from the floor, as shown according to FIG. 5. Likewise, the BANANA BRIDGE support member is disposed proximate to the floor of the container underlying the inner curvature of each of the bananas in a suitable position to provide support therefore, as discussed above. As the collective stem ends 402 of the bananas are preferably orientated in a common direction within the overwrap 412, the stem ends will typically be collectively presented proximate to a sidewall 526 a of the container. Alternatively, one or more of the bananas can be disposed with its stem end oriented in an opposite direction from the stem end of one or more of the adjacent bananas in the overwrapped arrangement.

In a preferred embodiment, the elongate BANANA BRIDGE support member 410 extends lengthwise from a first sidewall of the container 526 b toward and preferably to an opposing second sidewall of the container 5264 d. As discussed above, the width of the plural bananas positioned in a sequential side-by-side arrangement preferably also extends from proximate the first sidewall 526 b to proximate the second sidewall 526 d. If each banana is positioned in contact with its adjacent neighbor bananas on each side, or very nearly so, and yet a gap remains between a sidewall and the end of the arrangement of bananas, one or more suitable peripheral pad members (not shown) can be selected or configured, and disposed to fill the gap.

The use of one or more peripheral pad members provides cushioning in the event of laterally applied forces during shipping and handling, and helps minimize lateral movement of the bananas relative to one another and relative to the opposing first and second sidewalls 526 b/526 d. Suitable peripheral pad members can be formed similarly to the BANANA BRIDGE support member (e.g., by molding, extrusion, lamination, etc.), whether folded or not, and can be comprised of any likewise suitably resilient and supportive material or combination of materials, as discussed above and as would be understood by an ordinarily skilled artisan in light of this description.

The container optionally includes a cover 528 which, when emplaced for shipping and together with the sidewalls and floor, typically forms a closed chamber within the container. In one embodiment, the cover is a separate structure from the remainder of the container, with a skirt depending downwardly from and about a circumference of a lid expanse (“lid”). The width and length dimensions of the lid are typically approximately the same as those of the floor of the container, or may be slightly greater or lesser in alternative embodiments. When the cover is placed atop the container, the upper edges of the one or more container sidewalls nest within a perimeter formed by the skin, and the skirt externally overlaps and confines the upper edges of the container sidewalls, similar in manner to a shoebox lid.

Alternatively, the cover can comprise one or more flaps each joined at an edge thereof with one of the plural container sidewalls, the junction(s) between the flap and the sidewall being configured as a live hinge member (“hinge”). Flexing the one or more flaps at the hinge enables a user to alternatively open and close the container, to access the contents or confine the contents therein.

In another embodiment the cover can be formed as a sleeve having a top expanse coupled with a bottom expanse by two or more side panels extending therebetween. The top expanse and bottom expanse are retained in a relatively parallel planar relationship to one another by the side panels. A space provided between the top and bottom expanses is slightly greater than the height of the plural sidewalls of the container, and the length and width dimensions of at least the top expanse is approximately equal to or slightly greater than that of the floor of the container. For use, the container is inserted through an open end of the sleeve into the space between the top and bottom expanses, in similar manner to inserting a hand into a glove.

In at least one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, a first container 520 is inserted into a larger container 740, or “overpack” (e.g., a box, etc.). Additionally, the height of the overpack box 740 allows at least a second similar container 720 to also be inserted therein. The second container 720 is configured similarly to the first container, and when inserted into the overpack box 740, rests atop and is supported by at least one or more of the sidewalls of the first container 520. Therefore, the first container and the second container are arranged in a vertical stack within the overpack box. In such arrangement, the floor of the upper container in the stack functions as a cover for the lower container. A correspondingly taller overpack box can likewise receive and retain therein three or more vertically stacked containers. As an ordinarily skilled artisan will readily recognize, increasing the number of containers in a vertical stack may require, in one embodiment, beneficially configuring the sidewalls of the lower container(s) with stronger, stiffer materials (e.g., stronger sidewalk), to support the corresponding increase in expected weight to be borne thereby. Of course, if the container sidewalls are already sufficiently robust to carry the additional weight of two, three, or more additional vertically stacked containers, then the container need not be reinforced or replaced with a stronger container.

Although one embodiment of the invention contemplates placing only the described arrangement of curvilinear produce items in the container, another embodiment contemplates placing plural curvilinear produce items, in a manner as described above, in a first section 610 of a container 620, and also placing other produce items 605 or other materials in a second section 615 thereof, as shown in FIG. 6. The second section 615 could be configured similarly to the first section, for placement of a second row of bananas or other curvilinear produce items, or it could be configured for placement of other types of produce items 605 such as apples, pears, etc. The second section 615 can be the same size as the first section 610, or larger, or smaller, according to alternative embodiments.

One or more partitions 635 may be provided within and extending between opposing sidewalls of the container 620, or between a sidewall and another partition, or between two partitions, and will divide the chamber into plural sections. The relative sizes of each section so formed may depend on the type and number of produce items to be included in the container, but at least the section configured to contain the curvilinear produce items will be sized and dimensioned to receive and retain those produce items arranged as described above. The length or width dimensions of the remainder of the container, as may be appropriate, may be selected based on the number and types of produce items that the user intends to place in the second section. In at least one exemplary embodiment, a partition can form two sections, and each section can retain an arrangement of curvilinear produce items as described above.

in a typical embodiment, each of the one or more partitions will comprise a subdividing barrier, as shown in FIG. 6. A typical partition is longer and thinner than it is tall, and is formed of one or more rigid or semi-rigid materials including cardboard, paperboard, wood, plastic, or another such suitable material. By rigid or semi-rigid, it is intended herein that the partition tends not to bend or collapse under its own weight when placed in a vertically oriented position within the container. Additionally, the partition should resist collapse or significant deflection in response to insertion or movement of one or more produce items placed within the section delineated by the partition.

In at least one embodiment, one of the plural sections segregated by a first partition is further subdivided into plural subsections by one or more additional partitions disposed therein, whether disposed parallel to or perpendicular to the first partition, as in FIG. 6. The additional partitions therefore subdivide the second section into multiple subsections. As shown, such multiple subsections enable placement of multiple individual produce items 605, each produce item being separated front the others in an embodiment, and being retained substantially in place within a subsection.

An arrangement of intersecting partitions can be formed in many ways. In at least one embodiment, the arrangement is formed as a unitary structure, with the several parallel and perpendicular partitions being joined at their intersections by hinges, thermo-welded joints, tab and slot features, adhesives, fasteners, clips, or any other means or methods suitable to retain the several partitions in an edgewise vertical orientation within the container. Alternatively, one or more of the partitions can comprise an inverted “V”-shape which is able to stand on its own upon the floor of the container, or can he affixed to the floor of the container, via adhesives, fasteners, or some other structural interaction, to retain the partition in position or in an edgewise vertical orientation therein.

Additionally, an arrangement of plural intersecting partitions can be configured with flexible intersections therebetween so that the entire arrangement can be collapsed laterally to enable compact storage, while being easily expanded for use as shown in FIG. 6. For example, the aforementioned hinges at the partition intersections can provide flexibility or even collapsibility in an embodiment, as can interlocking slots formed into the corresponding top and bottom edges of intersecting partitions, adhesive tape, or other structures and materials. A typical embodiment utilizes interlocking slots, slits, or channels formed at least partway through from the bottom toward the top of one partition, and from the top toward the bottom of a corresponding partition. Aligning and engaging the corresponding slots of the respective partitions provides a simple yet efficient arrangement in which each partition supports each correspondingly engaged partition in an upright, position even when no produce items are present. Yet, as described above, the entire arrangement of engaged partitions can be laterally collapsed to form a very compact bundle for storage.

In a preferred embodiment, the height of one or more of the partitions 635 (as measured upwardly from the floor of the container) is greater than the height of the produce items 605 to be retained in the container. In particular, the height of one or more of the partitions 635 can be configured to be the same height, or nearly the same height, as one or more of the plural sidewalls 626 a-626 d of the container. In the instance of two or more containers being arranged in a vertical stack, partitions extending across the inner expanse of the lower container in the stack and configured with approximately the same height as one or more of the plural sidewalls, provide additional support to prevent the bottom of the upper container from contacting or collapsing onto the produce items in a lower container. Therefore, the partitions function cooperatively with the container sidewalls not only to retain produce items in place, but also to protect them from compressive forces that may be applied laterally, or from above or below the container.

In particular, a conjoined arrangement of perpendicular partitions provide a modified “honeycomb” structure, which is well-known in the art for providing stiffness and support against vertical deflection of planar structures disposed across a top or bottom of the honeycomb, while providing a relatively lightweight overall structure. An example of this arrangement and its benefits is the lightweight ‘honeycomb construction used in cantilevered aircraft wings, which helps resist both of the compressive and tensive forces to which the wings are regularly subjected.

As shown in FIG. 6, a container is configured with a first section 610, and also with a second section 615 subdivided into plural subsections by plural parallel and perpendicular partitions 635. Plural fruit items 605 (e.g., apples and pears), one or more of which can each be wrapped in a mesh fruit sleeve according to the conventional use thereof, are individually placed into each of the plural subsections. The presence of the fruit items in the subsections provides additional support to the plural partitions, collectively helping to relatively securely retain the produce items in place within the container. An arrangement of plural bananas 640 (or another curvilinear produce item), retained in an overwrap bag (as shown at 412 in FIG. 5) with an underlying elongate support member (410 in FIG. 5) is placed into the first section 610, with the outer curvature of the bananas facing upwardly away from the floor of the container. When included in a partitioned container, the bananas are typically placed into the first section of the container with their collective stem ends orientated away from the partitions and toward an outer sidewall 626 b.

One or more peripheral pad members (not shown) may optionally be placed into any gaps that remain between one or more produce items and a sidewall, to restrict lateral movement of the produce items. Peripheral pad members can include any of the same materials as an elongate support member, although sized to fit as needed into a gap, and such sizing and material selection is well within the skill of an ordinarily skilled artisan in light of this description. Therefore, peripheral pad members are not shown in the several drawing figures.

in at least one embodiment, as mentioned, a lower pad member 522 is disposed at the floor of the container before placing the partitions 635 or any produce items into the container, to help shelter the produce items from damage due to vertically applied forces during shipping, and handling, and as with all the described pad members, to likewise restrict vertical movement of produce items. In an embodiment, an upper pad member, as shown at 750 in FIG. 7, is disposed atop one or more of the produce items in the container, to likewise restrict vertical movement of the produce items relative to a cover, and to provide protection from vertically oriented forces during shipping and handling. The upper or lower pad members can likewise be configured in the same manner or from the same materials as described above relative to the peripheral pad members and elongate support member.

As with the lower pad member 522, in a preferred embodiment, the upper pad member 750 is configured substantially coextensively relative to the floor or cover of the container, extending fully or nearly fully between and to the plural sidewalls, when disposed within the container for use. However, in at least one alternative embodiment, either of the upper pad member or the lower pad member may correspond in size to a single section or subsection, or to any particular subset of the sections or subsections. For example, a lower pad member can be configured for placement into a single subsection prior to placing a produce item in that subsection, as in the case when a particular fruit item is sufficiently small or sensitive to damage that additional gap-filler or protection may be needed for that fruit item. Such individualized lower and upper pad members enable customization of the protection provided to each individual fruit item in any particular container configuration.

In an embodiment, one such section-specific pad member is disposed atop an arrangement of plural curvilinear produce items in the container. An end 642 of the section-specific pad member 645 (referred to hereinafter, for convenience only, as a “tucked pad member”) is loosely rolled as shown in FIG. 6, and is tucked beneath the collective blossom ends of the bananas 640. When the container is partitioned into two or more sections, the rolled and tucked end 642 will preferably be located between the end(s) of the bananas and a first partition extending across the container between the banana retaining section 610 and an adjacent section 615, as shown in FIG. 7. An opposing end 646 of the tucked pad member 645 is then tucked between the opposing stem end of the bananas and a sidewall 626 b of the container, so that a central expanse 644 of the tucked pad member 645 overlies the collective outer curvatures of the plural bananas 640.

Configured as described, the tucked pad member 645 provides some of the benefits of both a peripheral pad member and an upper pad member, including protecting and securing the banana in position. Additionally, because the blossom ends 403 of the bananas do riot provide as much protection to the edible flesh portion of the banana as do the longer stem ends 402, the rolled and tucked pad placed beneath the blossom ends improves the protection afforded to the bananas by the inventive embodiments as described. Further, a tucked pad member 645 is also used, substantially as described above, in one or more embodiments wherein the container includes only an overwrapped arrangement of bananas, but no other fruit or partitioned sections.

Lastly, once the collective produce items, pad members, and when applicable, partitions, are disposed within a container as described, the container cover 528 is then placed into position to close the container and seal the produce and packaging materials therein. In embodiments where two or more containers are vertically stacked within an overpack, each individual container may not have a lid, but the overpack cover 760 is closed and sealed. The overpack 740, as an ordinarily skilled artisan will recognize in view of this description, can be a conventionally configured shipping box. For example, the overpack will typically be formed of sturdy cardboard, plastic, wood, metal, or another suitably robust material to survive intact the range of environmental conditions and applied forces reasonably expected to be encountered during commercial shipping and handling of produce items, and to substantially protect the produce items therein from damage.

Packages of produce items are typically palletized and secured to a pallet by plastic wrap, strapping, or other such means, as are known in the art Palletized containers and overpack are typically not handled directly during, shipping, but instead as part of a collective, unitary pallet load wherein the pallet itself is directly handled during shipping (e.g., by pallet jacks, forklifts, etc). Therefore, an ordinarily skilled artisan will recognize or can otherwise easily determine an appropriate material and configuration for the container or overpack based on the rigors of a selected shipping route and method, while remaining well within the scope of the intended embodiments herein.

The cover 760 of the overpack or container, as the case may be, can be sealed with tape, straps, staples, an adhesive, clips, tabs, a friction-fitting lid, or any other conventionally known means or methods or combination thereof In a preferred embodiment, the overpack or container is inserted into a sleeve comprising a polymer film material (e.g., “shrink wrap”) which shrinks when heated above a threshold temperature. The shrink wrap material, when heated, shrinks until it tightly conforms to the outer dimensions of the overpack or container. Such material not only retains the overpack or container properly sealed throughout shipping, but also provides moderate to highly effective protection against moisture, abrasion, warping, and other sources of potential damage to the fruit and packaging

Having described the several embodiments of the invented packaging and method above, an exemplary embodiment of the method, and certain alternatives thereof, is now summarized with reference to the flow diagram depicted in FIG. 8.

Plural individualized bananas (or another elongate, curvilinear produce item) are provided. If the bananas are bunched, the stems are cut or otherwise separated from one another at 802, to individualize the bananas. The cut stems are measured, and if longer than an intended, predetermined length, the stems are optionally cleanly cut 804 to leave approximately three quarters of an inch (or another suitable length) attached to the banana.

At 806, the individualized and trimmed bananas are then immersed in an approximately five percent ascorbic acid solution for approximately thirty to forty-five seconds, the solution being at a temperature m the range of approximately fifty-four to fifty-eight degrees Fahrenheit. Following immersion, the bananas are inspected to ensure all sap is removed from the peel and the cut stem end, and are then fully air dried 808 at fifty-four to fifty-eight degrees Fahrenheit.

The dried bananas are then measured or compared, and bananas having the same or nearly the same size (e.g., length) are grouped 810 separately from dissimilarly-sized bananas. The quantity of bananas in each group depends upon how many will fit within a corresponding size of a packaging container, when the bananas are arranged as described above and shown in the drawing figures.

A protective mesh fruit sleeve is then stretched lengthwise over each of the bananas, at 812, extending across and covering the opposing blossom and stem ends of the banana. A portion of the mesh sleeve conforms closely to the outer curvature of the banana, while a “bowstring” portion of the sleeve tautly extends in a relatively straight line between the blossom and stem ends, proximate to but separated from the inner curvature of the banana.

A BANANA. BRIDGE elongate support member is provided either as a pre-formed unit, or by configuring an expanse of padding material. For example, a square or rectangular JIFFY Pad can be folded in half, and can be optionally secured in such folded configuration by tape, and adhesive, clips, string, or another fastening means or method as would be recognized by an ordinarily skilled artisan.

The BANANA BRIDGE support member is placed into an overwrap bag, at 814, for example, and the mesh sleeve-covered bananas are arranged side-by-side along the length of the BANANA BRIDGE support member, at 816, with their stem ends presented at one side of the BANANA BRIDGE support member and their blossom ends presented at the other. The inner curvature of each banana is disposed downwardly so that the banana arches over the BANANA BRIDGE support member and is beneficially suspended thereabove by the “bowstring” portion of the mesh sleeve. Once the designated quantity of bananas are arranged along the BANANA BRIDGE support member, the overwrap bag is sealed 818 in an airtight manner by a suitable means and method (e.g., heat sealed using a heat sealing mechanism, etc.).

A container having generally four sidewalls, a floor, and a generally rectangular chamber defined, therein, is provided. A lower pad member is disposed 820 at and generally coextensive with the floor of the container, and one or more partitions are optionally disposed 822 atop the lower pad and configured to provide plural sections within the container. Such partitions are approximately the same height as the sidewalls when disposed atop the lower pad member. One of the plural sections is further subdivided into an arrangement of juxtaposed chambers, or subsections, by the plural partitions.

One or more produce items (e.g., apples, pears, etc.) are wrapped with mesh fruit sleeves according to the conventional use thereof, and are each disposed individually within one of the one or more subsections. The overwrapped bananas and BANANA BRIDGE support member are likewise disposed 824 into a remaining section of the container, with the BANANA BRIDGE support member disposed adjacent to the lower pad member and the bananas arched upwardly away from the floor of the container. The stem ends are typically orientated away from the partitions and the other produce items in the container.

One end of a preferably rectangular pad member (e.g., a JIFFY Pad) is then loosely rolled and tucked 826 between the bananas and the partitions, and under and along the several blossom ends of the bananas. The remainder of the pad member is then extended over the top of the bananas and the opposing end of the pad member is tucked between the several stem ends of the bananas and a sidewall of the container.

An upper pad member is then disposed 828 atop the produce items in the container. The length and width of the upper pad member, like the lower pad member, typically extends fully between and to the opposing side walls of the container. A cover of the container is then closed, and securely sealed 832. Throughout the entire described process, the produce items are maintained in an environment having a temperature within the range of approximately fifty-four to fifty eight degrees Fahrenheit (54-58° F.; or 12.2-14.4° C.).

If the container is instead to be stacked vertically with one or more other similarly prepared containers, a correspondingly-sized slightly larger overpack box is provided. The container is disposed 830 within and at the floor of the overpack box, and the one or more additional such containers are likewise disposed within the overpack box, vertically aligned with and atop the first, lower container. Each additional container is supported by the sidewalls and partitions of the container or containers disposed below it within the overpack box. A top pad member is then disposed atop one or more of the containers in the overpack box, and at 832, the cover of the overpack box is dosed and securely sealed. Each of the several containers stacked within the overpack can individually include a cover, which is closed and secured prior to stacking the several containers within the overpack. Alternatively, as previously described herein, each container can instead be configured as a ‘tray,’ with a floor and sidewalls but without a cover. Any combination of individually covered and coverless containers likewise falls within the scope of the contemplated embodiments.

As described throughout, and as would be recognized by an ordinarily skilled artisan, the several dimensions of the pads, partitions, containers, overwrap, overpack, shrink wrap film and other described features, such as length, width or thickness, can vary in alternative contemplated embodiments, while remaining within the intended scope of the invention. For example, a larger container would utilize larger pads, partitions, etc., and would accommodate a larger quantity of produce items than would a smaller container. Such variations in dimensions that nevertheless enable the structural arrangements described herein, are considered well within the equivalents of the described embodiments.

Likewise, it will be understood that the invented embodiments are not limited to the method or detail of construction, fabrication, material, application or use described and illustrated herein. Indeed, any suitable variation of fabrication, use, or application is contemplated as an alternative embodiment, and thus is within the intended spirit and scope of the invention. It is further intended that an other embodiments of the present invention that result from any changes in application or method of use or operation, configuration, method of manufacture, shape, size, or material, which are not specified within the detailed written description or illustrations contained herein yet would be understood by one skilled in the art, are within the scope of the present invention.

Accordingly, while the present invention has been shown and described with reference to the foregoing embodiments of the invented apparatus, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 

We claim:
 1. A method for packaging plural individualized curvilinear produce items, comprising: providing a container, including: plural serially-interconnected sidewalls, and a floor coupled with one or more of the plural sidewalls, wherein the floor and the plural sidewalls collectively define a rectangular chamber therein; positioning an elongate support member at the floor of the container, the support member extending lengthwise from adjacent a first one of the plural sidewalls toward an opposing second one of the plural sidewalk; and disposing plural curvilinear produce items along a length of the elongate support member in a sequential side-by-side arrangement between the first sidewall, and the second sidewall, wherein: the elongate support member extends beneath an inner curvature of each of the one or more plural curvilinear produce items; and the inner curvature of each of the plural produce items faces toward the floor.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising; sealing one or more of the plural curvilinear produce items within an airtight enclosure.
 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising: sealing the elongate support member within the enclosure.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the enclosure includes an ethylene absorbing constituent.
 5. The method of claim 2, wherein the enclosure includes an oxygen absorbing constituent.
 6. The method of claim 2, wherein the enclosure includes a water vapor absorbing constituent.
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: individualizing one or more of the plural curvilinear produce items from a conjoined bunch thereof.
 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising: cutting to a predetermined length a stem of the one or more of the plural curvilinear produce items.
 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising: immersing one or more of the plural curvilinear produce items in a cleansing solution after cutting the stem, and; allowing the cleansing solution to evaporatively dry from the one or more curvilinear produce items.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the cleansing solution is a sodium hydrochlorate solution.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the cleansing solution is an ascorbic acid solution having a concentration found within the range of one to ten (1-10) percent.
 12. The method of claim 9, further comprising: maintaining the one or more plural curvilinear produce items in an environment having an ambient temperature found within the range of fifty-four to fifty-eight degrees Fahrenheit (54-58° F.)
 13. The method of claim 1, further comprising: selecting the plural curvilinear produce items, based on size similarity, from among a larger group of plural curvilinear produce items.
 14. The method of claim 7, further comprising: extending an expandable band lengthwise around opposing ends of one or more of the individualized curvilinear produce items, wherein the band extends along an upper curvature of the produce item and also extends elastically from a stem end to a blossom end of the produce item.
 15. The method of claim 1, further comprising: providing one or more partitions within the chamber, the one or more partitions extending between the first and second sidewalk and being configured to divide the chamber into plural adjacent sections.
 16. The method of claim 6, wherein one of the plural adjacent sections is further subdivided into plural subsections by one or more additional partitions disposed therein.
 17. The method of claim 1, further comprising: disposing a pad expanse at the floor of the container, wherein one or more peripheral edges of the pad expanse extends along and adjacent to one of the plural sidewalls of the container.
 18. The method of claim 1, further comprising: disposing, a pad expanse within the container and atop the plural curvilinear fruit, comprising: disposing a first edge of the pad expanse beneath a first end of one or more of the plural curvilinear fruit and disposing an opposing second edge of the pad expanse between a third sidewall of the container and one or more of the plural curvilinear fruit and.
 19. The method of claim 1, further comprising: positioning the container and another such container in a vertically stacked arrangement within a larger container.
 20. The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more partitions are equal in height to one or more of the plural sidewalk of the container.
 21. The method of claim 1, thither comprising; providing a cover at an end of the container opposing the floor, the cover being configured, when engaged with one or more of the plural sidewalls during use, to form an enclosed chamber collectively with the floor and plural sidewalls. 